Posted on 03/12/2010 5:15:20 AM PST by NYer
Edited on 03/12/2010 2:36:51 PM PST by Admin Moderator. [history]
Wednesday in Rome, Pope Benedict XVI gave a fascinating talk containing important insights into the ideas and principles guiding his pontificate.
And this talk, given at his regular Wednesday Audience, came as a series of terrible crises continues to strike the Church, from scandals in Ireland to matters connected to the founder of the Legionaries of Christ, from scandals in Germany to accusations against the Pope’s own brother, Father Georg Ratzinger.
(Excerpt) Read more at catholicexchange.com ...
Human history belongs to God, and we know who wins the battle. He promised us that Hades would not prevail.
The Blessed Mother has warned us MANY times that His church would be under great attack.
"Do not weep for my tears, but look at and console my Son Jesus who wears a crown of thorns and sheds blood and sweat.
Pray for priests without ceasing. They are now like a light before wind. They are being subjected to temptations. The windows of rectories are left open. Through the open windows, three devils (of pride, materialism and lust) are peeking in. Close the windows of rectories.
Become sacrificial offerings for priests. I am helping them, too. So, support them to the end, because they are my most precious and beloved sons.
What have you done for your priest lately? I haven't done enough, but I really try to return their blessings, and pray for them at mass. I try to bring healthy meals to our priest who isn't in good health. He is too busy to eat them. I tried to have an emergency confession with my priest, and he blew me off. I insisted, and found 40 kids waiting in line. I skipped them all. I know God wanted me there, and He forgives me. Our priests work sooooo hard.
Douay-Rhiems analysis of Matthew 16:18
“And I say to thee: That thou art Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.”
“The gates of hell, &c. That is, the powers of darkness, and whatever Satan can do, either by himself or his agents. For as the Church is here likened to a house, or fortress, the gates of which, i.e. the whole strength, and all the efforts it can make, will never be able to prevail over the city or Church of Christ. By this promise we are fully assured, that neither idolatry, heresy, nor any pernicious error whatsoever shall at any time prevail over the Church of Christ. (Challoner)”
You nailed it.
The media loves to pick on the Catholic Church despite the falling down of our own administration WITHIN the United States.
Nevertheless, we all will pray for Pope Benedict XVI. I believe he will one day be respected as a Doctor of the Church!
Guess whose administration is in “crisis,” according to the AP?
Yes, you nailed it alright!
The battle occurring right now is between the forces of light and the forces of darkness.
And fear ye not them that kill the body, and are not able to kill the soul: but rather fear him that can destroy both soul and body in hell....
You're interpretation makes me a little uncomfortable. It is exactly what Jesus said, "No matter what happens, the Church will not be defeated by the Enemy. That's it.
We are still here 2,000 years later. After centuries of attacks and division from outside and within the Church, we are still the largest segment of Christians in the world, and growing. May God continue to bless our priests who have left everything behind to follow Jesus. They are completely dedicated to God, with no worldly attachments and I think it is plain to see how horribly they are attacked. Like Jesus, they carry a heavy cross.
That is brilliant insight!
The fact the Pope Benedict is being attacked means he is following Christ.This modern world wants to crucify and attack those who TRULY follow Christ
Great picture! Yes, the “slapping a child” stuff is ridiculous. Anybody over the age of 50 has probably been spanked not only by their parents but smacked on the back of the head, hit on the knuckles, or otherwise physically disciplined by teachers and other adults.
That said, the crisis in Benedict’s papacy is that never has there been a pope they have hated so much. They’d sort of worked things out in handling JPII, somebody had probably managed to kill JPI before he became a problem, they liked the weak Paul VI except for that Humanae Vitae stuff, John XXIII was their hero, and they devoted most of their time to hating the long-dead Pius XII. However, they’re feeling the heat now and they want to destroy Benedict any way they can.
As many missteps and fits and starts as Benedict has had, this is going to go down as a papacy that saw quite a purge.
That is a wonderful story about the faked bus wreck, and the over 100 claims of injury. It makes a great post about false claims.
There has not been a time when the Church was not in crisis.
This too shall pass and the Church will stand.
They used to be held in check by (1) fear of prosecution for fraud; (2) fear of public shame; (3) moral instruction by family, church and school.
Since (2) and (3) are absent in many cases, and (1) is usually kind of hit or miss, you're seeing an increase in the "something for nothing" crowd. It's a shame, but they're out there.
It's obvious that lots of people want to take down the Pope. Not buying into the panic will make opposing their exaggerations much easier.
all these scandals are ordinary everyday problems that the press has trumpeted to bring down the church.
Most Catholics know this, and shrug...
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